Woodturning Weathered Purpleheart

This is one ugly chunk of wood, rough cut, weathered, and wedge shaped. Or is it a misunderstood slice of potential? See it transform into something more in this week’s project video.

From the Port of Seattle some decades ago, this wood was trimmed from a pier and discarded as waste, and later found and brought home by a craftsman that saw something of value in it. When time went by and the craftsman passed on, this chunk of wood was headed to a fire to be burned away. That’s when one of my subscribers stepped in and said, “I know a feller that can do something with that!”

Special thanks to Anthony of PNW RC on YouTube for sending me this chunk of potential! I appreciate being that “feller” you thought of!

Check out his channel here, it’s very interesting and surprising both!

My regular mailing address is:
Rod Humphrey
PO Box 159
Chesterfield, IN 46017

These verses stuck out to me as I studied this week. Jesus Christ spoke these words, find comfort in them and seek him. He is my Savior and I’d be truly lost without Him.

Matthew 11:28-30
28 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

[mistersamdi]

My Great-Uncle Kenny used to work with purple heart wood a lot when he was around. It is so beautiful, he did some amazing projects with it. He told me it was so hard and dense that it would chew up a lot of his jigsaw blades, but the end result was worth it. :)

[smeefamily]

I never waste a piece of wood. Recycle as much as I can. Even the tiny bits get used. Great job on the bowl. Purple heart is so nice. Take care and stay safe. From Petawawa, Ontario, Canada.

[cdey]

That was a neat trick to pull up the purple with flame. I never saw that done before. The bowl is gorgeous and the flash is impressive. It takes a real artist to look at a gray block of wood and find a beautiful keepsake in it.

[riazghuman]

A Saying in Dutch language " Wonderen zijn niet de wereld over " means the wonders are not gone away from this world . You let me believe in again .
Very different and really very beautiful Purple experience, which is absolutely beyond imagination, beacuse I never expected that wood will be ever in natural Purple colour .
Thanks for sharing this amazing experience .

[ronnie]

Mr. R Humphrey, thank you for this video, I had a friend of mine make me a Guitar body out of Purple Heart, he said do you know how heavy that wood is, i said Yes, But i will play it sitting down, he made it for me, and the residence of the wood is spectacular, it just delivers pure Tone, my favoritie Guitar, Cousin Figel

[Quiltmama]

I love this bowl. Such beautiful colors of purple.

[GodSponge]

This may well be my favorite non-resin turned piece I've ever seen. The purple with the flash is absolutely amazing.

[joyceb.]

"I hope you don't mind" Laughing! Sir, I think we would be thrilled to watch you dunk a tea bag! What skill on a beautiful project, purple heart is a fantastic wood and you treated it fantastically! Thanks and God Bless!

[cookiescoop]

Yes sir purple 💜 is beautiful to work with .have a great weekend ✌

[jilldavies]

Who would have thought that such an unprepossessing chunk of wood would yield up such wonderful colours? And those flashes---as though someone were signalling with lights. Gorgeous bowl.

[causmogroov]

My wife is speechless!! That NEVER happens!!!! Thank you!! That is one gorgeous bowl sir!!

[russellstevens]

Hi Rod it is a another lovely job. Keep up the the good work, God bless you and your family, Russell

[YamiOni]

I enjoy seeing the whole project, not just the turning. It gives an appreciation for all the work that went into it!

[julieprior]

That is beautiful. The colours are lovely, but almost more than that I love the very elegant shape of the bowl. It's slightly unusual and delicate. I guess there is a pull towards making a chunky bowl from a chunk of wood. So glad you didn't. 🇬🇧

[daemonikkateylarii]

Purple heart wood is my favorite due to it's beautiful color. It was awesome to see you return life to that piece of wood and the creation you made was stunning!

[czellner]

Good job Rod. Thanks for sharing it. Charlie

[honeymesquitewoodshop]

Siempre fi. What an honor it was to see you at work. Bless you bringing this old Mother Nature beauty back to life for the world to see. Any and I mean any wood is a blessing from the man up stairs. There is such beauty in wood and you sire have given life to that chuck of forgotten block. Thank you.

[pnwRC.]

WOWZERS! That old piece of wood, I didn't think would make such a beautiful finished product!
I shared this video with the son of the man that salvaged this cutoff. I know he'll be pleased to see that it was finally, after all those years sitting around, made something like this!

Thanks for sharing how we can salvage a project with a boogered cut. I wasn't aware of that until I watched your video tip. If that had been my project, I most likely would have had to scrap it from that we watched this!

[tomcannon]

Rod as usual a Craftsman that's a piece of art I'm impressed. Thank you for your knowledge on woodturning I've learned a lot from watching you. I use my scrap pieces of purple heart to make little hearts and give them to the fellows down at the VA hospital when I go. Semper Fi

[richardcollins]

Well done Mr. Humphry. Beautiful bowl.